'Green initiative' by Charles will cost £80,000 and leave 53-ton carbon footprint as he flies in 12-seat private jet | Mail Online

Clarence House aides stress that the trip is at the request of the Government to promote its climate change policies.

But instead of using scheduled flights, the Royal party has hired a private plane, thought to be an Airbus A319.

According to experts from the Carbon Managers company, which carries out environmental audits, the aircraft's four European flights over 2,200 miles will leave a carbon footprint of 52.95 tons - nearly five times the average person's 11-ton footprint for an entire year.

Each member of Charles's party will leave a carbon footprint of 4.41 tons - 13 times more than if they had used a scheduled flight on the same type of plane, which can carry up to 156 passengers.

The flights on the specially converted jet, which boasts a master suite with its own lavatory and shower, will cost an estimated £80,000 - five times more than business-class fares on scheduled airlines.

Interview: The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore

LAist: Based on your 24 years of experience, what are your perceptions of global warming?

Jim Cantore: There is no question that the earth is warming, we know that. The question is if it is progressing at a rate that the earth can not compensate for, that we don't know: some say "no", some say "yes" and I'm not ready to go either way. But being out in weather, particularly in rainfall, I've been in rainstorms with such pounding rain, it just seems like the rain is coming down harder, particularly in the last 10 years. It's not science, it's just my perception of what I'm seeing going on out there.

But no one can every argue with cleaner air, less pollution and garbage, so why not proceed ahead? Changing what we're doing could also create jobs in this economy. There's nothing but good in it. What gives a mixed message is when people are trying to bully their position over you for whatever reason.